The link building landscape has changed significantly over the past decade. Tactics that once delivered quick results — mass directory submissions, comment spam, PBN links — now carry real penalty risk. What hasn’t changed is this: Google still uses backlinks as one of its strongest ranking signals.
The question isn’t whether to build links. It’s how to do it in a way that’s sustainable, ethical, and genuinely effective. If you’re newer to the concept, start with our primer on what is link building before diving into these tactics.
Here are seven strategies that are earning real results in 2026.
1. Guest Posting
Guest posting — writing an article for another website in your industry in exchange for a byline and a link — remains one of the most reliable ways to earn quality backlinks.
The key is selectivity. Write for sites that have real audiences, relevant topics, and genuine editorial standards. A single guest post on a DR 50 niche site is worth far more than ten posts on low-quality “write for us” farms.
How to start: Search Google for your niche + "write for us" or use Ahrefs Content Explorer to find sites publishing similar content. Pitch specific, original article ideas — never send generic requests.
2. Broken Link Building
This technique involves finding broken links (404 errors) on other websites that used to point to content similar to yours — then reaching out to the site owner to suggest your page as a replacement.
It works because you’re solving a real problem for the webmaster. Nobody wants broken links on their site. When you offer a relevant, working replacement, the acceptance rate is meaningfully higher than cold outreach.
How to start: Use Ahrefs’ Site Explorer or the Check My Links browser extension to find broken outbound links on relevant pages. Then reach out with a brief, helpful email.
3. The Skyscraper Technique
Coined by Brian Dean, the Skyscraper Technique has three steps: find content in your niche with a lot of backlinks, create something significantly better, then reach out to everyone linking to the original.
“Better” can mean more comprehensive, more visually appealing, more recently updated, or enriched with original data. The logic is simple — if sites linked to a good resource, many will upgrade their link to a better one.
How to start: Use Ahrefs to find highly-linked pages in your niche. Analyze what’s missing or outdated. Build a superior version. Then systematically contact the sites linking to the original.
4. Digital PR and Original Data Studies
Publishing original research — surveys, industry reports, data analysis — is one of the highest-yield link building approaches available. Journalists and bloggers constantly need fresh statistics to cite, and when your data is the source, those citations become backlinks.
A survey of 500 people in your industry, a compilation of publicly available data with original analysis, or a proprietary study from your customer base can generate dozens to hundreds of editorial links from publications that would otherwise be impossible to reach.
How to start: Identify a question your industry is asking that no one has answered with data. Run a survey via Pollfish or SurveyMonkey, analyze the results, and publish the findings as a dedicated report page. Then pitch the story to relevant journalists and publications.
5. Resource Page Outreach
Resource pages — curated lists of useful tools, guides, and websites — exist in virtually every niche. A single link from a well-maintained resource page on a high-authority site can significantly boost a page’s ranking power.
How to start: Search Google for your topic + "useful resources" or your topic + "helpful links". Evaluate each resource page for quality and relevance. Then email the site owner with a concise pitch explaining what your content offers and why it belongs on their list.
Keep the email short. Webmasters receive a lot of outreach — a clear, specific ask with a direct link to your content gets far more responses than a lengthy introduction.
6. HARO and Journalist Outreach
Help a Reporter Out (HARO), now operating under the name Connectively, connects journalists seeking expert sources with professionals who can provide quotes and insights. Getting quoted in a news article or industry publication typically earns a dofollow backlink with strong domain authority.
Similar platforms include Qwoted, SourceBottle, and ProfNet. Beyond platforms, you can monitor journalist requests directly on social media — many reporters tweet or post LinkedIn requests for sources.
How to start: Sign up for HARO and respond quickly to relevant queries with concise, expert answers. Speed matters — journalists work on deadlines. Focus on queries in your niche and lead with your most compelling insight, not background information.
7. Creating Linkable Assets
The most scalable link building approach over the long term is creating content so useful that links come in without active outreach. These “linkable assets” include:
- Free tools and calculators (e.g., an SEO audit checklist, a readability scorer)
- Comprehensive glossaries and reference guides
- Original infographics summarizing complex data
- Annual industry reports updated regularly
- Curated statistics pages that journalists bookmark for future reference
The upfront investment is higher, but a single well-executed linkable asset can earn links continuously for years.
Putting It All Together
No single strategy is enough on its own. The most effective link building programs combine passive tactics (linkable assets, digital PR) with active outreach (guest posts, broken link building, resource pages) in a consistent, ongoing effort.
Start with one or two tactics that fit your current resources. Build systems and templates. Track your results and double down on what works.
For a deeper dive into one of the most popular active tactics, see our step-by-step guest posting guide. And if you want to understand the fundamentals before scaling up, revisit what is link building to make sure your foundation is solid.
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